Angle-dispersive radial X-ray diffraction measurements were conducted on alpha- and epsilon-Fe under nonhydrostatic stress conditions up to 30 GPa and 1000 K in laser heated diamond anvil cells. alpha-Fe (bee) is found to develop preferred orientation compatible with observations under ambient conditions. The preferred orientation of the alpha-phase is inherited by the epsilon-phase (hcp) in accordance with the Burgers orientation relationship. A comparison between the observed texture in epsilon-Fe with results from polycrystal plasticity modeling suggests that the predominant deformation mechanisms are basal slip (0 0 0 1) <(1) over bar 2 (1) over bar 0> and prismatic slip {1 0 (1) over bar 0} <(1) over bar 2 (1) over bar 0>, presumably associated with minor mechanical twinning. We do not observe any evidence of slip on the {1 1 (2) over bar 2} <1 1 (2) over bar 3> system that was proposed based on analogies with Cr-Ni stainless steel. Finally, we do not observe any change in preferred orientation upon heating in situ at 28 GPa and 1000 K. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.